Metal table construction



Feb. 10, 1959 f M. J. UNIS 2,873,035

METAL TABLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 1, 1956 INVENTOR. Max J (/ms.

United States Patent 2,873,035 METAL TABLE CONSTRUCTION Max J. Unis, Philadelphia, Pa. Application November 1, 1956, Serial No. 619,772

4 Claims. 01. 211-135 This invention relates to the manufacture of metal tables. It relates more particularly to a method of attaching legs directly to table tops and shelves in a novel and economical manner.

In the manufacture of metal utility tables, such as are used in kitchens and out-of-doors, it is desirable to manufacture table tops and shelves from single sheets of steel and to attach them directly to legs or upright members. This has been found to "be a more economic procedure than having the legs attached to a table base or apron framework upon which the table top or shelf is placed in turn. It is also of extreme economic importance that the top and shelf be identical and interchangeable members and that each be capable of attachment to the table legs in exactly the same manner.

Purchaser preferences dictate that such tables be made with rounded corners and edges throughout, having smooth, pleasing lines from every point of view. Considerations of strength and safety also make it preferable that the tops and shelves be provided with integral sides or aprons on their perimeters.

Modern metal working techniques can be used to achieve these objectives. Stamping and bending can be used to fabricate tops and shelves having rounded corners and integral side aprons. However, if the rounded corners of the table are to be modified so as to receive legs, which are also rounded, various types of indents are required at these leg-receiving corners. Design and fabrication of these leg-receiving indents create additional problems which are threefold in nature. First, the design must be one which provides for strength in the joinder of vertical leg and horizontal surface. Second, additional fabricating operations are required which involve the use of drawing dies as contrasted to the mere use of stamping dies. Third, a higher quality of steel, having greater ductility, must be used if the metal is to be cold worked beyond mere bending and cutting. Such ductile steel is known as drawing steel. Since these tables are low'cost, high volume, low profit items designed for a mass market, any considerations affecting production costs are of the utmost importance.

For economy of shipping it is essential that the tables be capable of ready assembly and disassembly. This can be achieved by providing a joint which allows legs to be quickly and easily attached and detached.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a joint for legs and fiat table surfaces which have rounded corners and integral aprons.

A further object of this invention is to provide a joint which can be fabricated without drawing quality steel or drawing dies.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a table corner construction which can be assembled or disassembled quickly using simple tools and can thus be shipped economically in knockeddown form.

These and other objects of the invention will "be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and claims.

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The accompanying'drawings are provided to exemplify the invention without limiting it to the particular embodiment shown. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary external perspective view of a corner of a table embodying the invention.

Figure 2 represents a fragmentary internal view of a corner of the aforesaid table which further shows a fragmentary portion of a lower shelf ready to be assembled.

Figure 3 represents a horizontal cross-section of the corner joint taken on line 3-3 of Figure l.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a table having a top 10, a shelf 11 and legs 12 which are arcuate in cross-section. The top 10 and the shelf 11 are identical in every respect,eachhaving integral aprons or side pieces 13. Bolts 14 are used to attach the table top and the shelf to the leg'in a manner which will be de scribed in detail below. At each rounded corner of the top 10 and the shelf 11, the apron 13 is shallower than on the sides so as to form the arcuate indented surface 15 having a width substantially equal to the width of the leg. 12. The surface 15 of the top 10 abuts against the top of the leg 12 and'thereby aids in strengthening-the joint and in the transmission of vertical loads from the top 14) to the leg'12.

As can best be seen' in Figure 2, the leg 12 has narrow strengthening flanges 16 on each side which are bent in-- wardly so as to present a smooth exterior surface. The top of the leg is also bent inwardly to form a horizontal flange 17 which is adapted to abut the edge 15, insuring continuous contact despite minor horizontal displacement of leg and top.

Generally segmental shaped notches 18 are cut in the strengthening flanges 16 at the level where it is desired to mount shelf 11. Since shelf 11 is identical with top 10, it will have an indented surface 15 which enables the corner to fit within the segmental notch 18 behind the leg 12 so that the rounded top corner of the shelf 11 abuts the arcuate top of the segmental notch and the indented surface or edge 15 rests upon the horizontal bottom of'the notch transmitting the shelf load to the leg. The snug fit of the shelf in the notch helps make the joint firm and solid. i

The leg 12 .also contains holes 24 to receive the bolts or screws 14. These holesmay becountersunk to'give the assembly a more pleasing appearance. 1 a

The aprons 13 may be formed with narrow flanges 19 which are bent somewhat inwardly to strengthen the apron and to eliminate exposed metal edges. As shown in Figure 3, the ends of the apron 13 adjacent the corners are bent inwardly to form generally L-shaped vertical end flanges. The vertical end flanges include a seating surface 20 and an end stop 21. The angle of the seating surface 20 is substantially the same as the angle at which the strengthening flanges 16 of the leg 12 are bent. The flanges 16 are therefore in continuous contact with seating surfaces 20 on each side of the leg. This contact further insures a rigid joint and prevents lateral motion of the leg with respect to the top. End stops 21 are posi' tioned so that the legs 12 recess into the corners a suflicient distance to cause the surface, from apron to leg to apron, to be smooth and flush so that the overall impression is that of a continuous and rounded exterior corner from which the leg neither protrudes nor recedes. The leg 12, which is arcuate, has the same radius of a curvature as the vertical corner into which it fits.

A corner brace or clamping piece 23, which has outwardly bent vertical flanges 22 fits into the corner of the assembly as shown in Figure 3. The flanges 22 are bent at an angle which allows them to seat on the inner surface of apron flange portion 20, just as the strengthening flanges 16 seat on the outer surface. Piece 23 may also have horizontal top and bottom flanges or ribbing to strengthen it. It also contains a hole 25 which may be formed in such a manner as to create an upset collar which will receive and threadedly retain bolt or screw 14.

To assemble a table corner, the leg 12 is fitted into the corner so that the indented surface 15 abuts the horizcntal flange 17 at the top of the leg. In the case of ashelf assembly, the surface 15 abuts the bottom edge of the notch 18. Corner brace 23 is then placed against the apron end flanges as shown in Figure 3. When bolt 14 is inserted through hole 24 and threaded into hole 25, the whole assembly can be tightened until the flanges 16 press against the end stops 21. The assembled corner will be rigid, braced and strong.

, It will be understood that minor changes in size, form and construction of this improved corner assembly can be made without departing from the-spirit of the invention. For instance, the corner brace or clampingipiece 23 can'be permanently attached to the vertical endapron flanges by methods which include welding and riveting. Instead of having bolt 14 threadedly engaged in hole 25 a nut or collar could be used. Since all of these variations are possible, the true scope of the invention is indicated only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 7

1. A metal table comprising in combination, a top and ,legs, said top having rounded edges and corners and further including integral perimetrical side aprons; said aprons terminating at each side of said corners in an inwardly bent generally L-shaped vertical flange, the

first leg of said flange constituting a seating portion and the second leg of said flange constituting a stopping portion, said stopping portion being at approximately right angles to its contiguous seating portion and the free edge of the stopping portions on each side of said corners being opposed; said legs being of substantially aicnate cross-section each having substantially the same width and radius of curvature as said corners and said legs further including relatively narrow vertical strengthening flanges on each side thereof bent inwardly in the direction of curvature of said legs; said legs when'seated flush in said corners causing said strengthening flanges to be in face to face contactwith said seating portion, and the free edges of said strengthening flanges to be in contact with saidstopping portions; corner clamping members each positioned beneath the top and in contact with said stopping portions, on the side of the L-shaped vertical flanges which is opposite said-leg, said corner clamping members further including vertical flanges on each side thereof, said flanges being bent so as to be opposed to each other, and in face to face contact with said seating portions; bolts connecting each of said corner clamping members with a leg; and means for retaining said bolts.

- 2. The table of claim 1 wherein, further, the upper ends of said legs terminate in a horizontal flange, bent in the same direction as said strengthening flanges, which horizontal flange is in supporting contact with the under side of said top.

3. A metal table comprising in combination, legs and a plurality of identical interchangeable horizontal shelves, each shelf having rounded edges and corners and further including perimetrical sid'e aprons; said aprons terminating at each side of said corners in an inwardly bent generally L-shaped vertical flange, the first leg of said flange constituting a seating portion and the second leg of said flange constituting a stopping portion, said stopping portion being at approximately right angles to its contiguous seating portion and the free edges of the stopping portions on each side of said corners being opposed; said legs being of substantially arcuate cross-section each having substantially the same width and radius of curvature as said corners; said legs also including relatively narrow vertical strengthening flanges on each side thereof bent inwardly'in the direction of curvature of said legs; said strengthening flanges also including a plurality of notches horizontally aligned in pairs below the upper end of said leg; said legs when'seated'flush in said corners causing said strengthening flanges to be in face to face contact with said seating portions, the free edges of said strengthening flanges to be in contact with said stopping portions, and at least one of the horizontal shelves to have its rounded corner edges within said notches; corner clamping members each positioned beneath a shelf and in contact with said stopping portions, on the side of the L-shaped vertical flanges which is opposite said leg, said corner clamping members further including vertical flanges on each side thereof; said flanges being bent so as to be opposed to each other, and in face to face contact with said seating portions; bolts connecting each of said corner clamping members with a leg and means for retaining s'aid bolts.

4. The table of claim 3 wherein, further, the upper ends of said legs terminate in a horizontal'flange, bent in the same direction as said strengthening flanges, which horizontal flange is in supporting contact-with the underside of one of said shelves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,770,722 Wright July 15, 1930 1,854,777 Bales Apr. 19, 1932 1,870,173 Calton Aug. 2, 1932 1,870,174 Calton Aug. 2, 1932 2,143,542 Clarin Jan. 10, 1939 2,172,687 Anderson Sept. 12, 1939 2,304,481 Shannonv Dec. 8, 1942 2,677,470 Catalano May 4, 1954 

